Vienna Declaration for a GMO-free Europe - GMO-free Regions

Vienna Declaration for a GMO-free Europe
By virtue of the democratic rights of citizens, and conscious of the cultural diversity of Europe we
demand the right of self-determination for the European regions and countries to ensure a GMOfree
environment and GMO-free food.
Transgenic agriculture will have an unacceptable impact on the survival of conventional and
organic agriculture in Europe. Without clear prohibition of genetic pollution, the quality of our
agriculture cannot be guaranteed. We now face the challenge of protecting our natural and
agricultural biodiversity.
We strongly support the European network of GMO-free regions and countries that
promote GMO-free food and farming.
We call on the institutions of the European Union and on national governments and
parliaments to work towards a GMO free Europe and to implement a legal basis for
the following demands of the citizens of Europe by end of 2007:
• Guarantee the comprehensive right for European consumers to GMO-free food and the right
for farmers to GMO-free agriculture. The right to choose what we eat includes the right to
food without any GMO-contamination.
• The EU must actively promote the development of GMO free regions and acknowledge the
right of self-determination on GMOs. Guided by the precautionary principle bans on GMO
are an important policy instrument on national and European level.
• The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) must be reformed to follow a clear
commitment to the precautionary principle as enshrined in the EU and international law like
the Protocol on Biosafety.
• GMO-free agriculture must take priority over a new and risky production with GMOs.
Technical standards must be specified to allow production free of any GMO-pollution both
in organic and conventional farming.
• The production of seeds should be regulated to prevent any possible risk of genetic
pollution. The currently applicable Austrian standard (the Austrian purity requirements for
seeds), which has also been supported by the European Parliament, should become an EU
standard.
• The GMO-polluters - both GMO-users and biotech companies holding GMO-consents -
must be held responsible and liable for all damages caused by the GMO and the GMOcontamination.
• The European Commission must appeal to any final ruling by the WTO that impinges on
our right to GMO-free agriculture and to a GMO-free food supply. The interim ruling by the
WTO on the GMO dispute, as well as other studies and reports on GMOs commissioned by
the European Commission, have to be made public. Impartial scientists should be
responsible for preparations of the appeal.

These demands are based on the following necessities and facts:
The right to food free from genetic modification
All of us have the right to choose food without genetically modified organisms (GMO). Decisions about the
use of reproductive material in a common environment cannot be made individually, as they affect all of us,
because the living environment belongs to each and everyone. Decisions concerning the use of GMO and
the structuring of agriculture in countries and regions should not be imposed by particular farmers,
bureaucrats or companies. The use of GMOs in nature is irreversible.
Protection, Precaution and Independent risk research
The consumption of genetically modified food by millions of people is like a large and uncontrolled
experiment, which could have unexpected consequences. Concerns about new allergens, antibiotic
resistance, pesticide exposure etc. are being raised by medical experts. Biotech research and risk assessment
must not be left in the hands of the biotech industry. We strongly condemn the use of people and animals
throughout the world as guinea-pigs for GMOs in food.
Coexistence is impossible
Coexistence between genetically modified and GMO-free farming in European agriculture is not possible,
just like there is no coexistence between silence and noise in a room. Local plants and their wild relatives
therefore require the highest standards of protection. Coexistence projects must not be facilitated by allowing
routine GMO contamination – “a bit” GM-free is not acceptable.
The GMO-users as well as the biotech companies holding GMO consents must be held responsible and liable
for all damage caused.
Purity requirements for seeds
Seeds are positioned at the beginning of the food chain. Without GMO-free seeds there cannot be GMO-free
farming and no GMO-free food. Furthermore, alternative farming systems such as organic farming are
endangered by GMO-contaminated seeds. Therefore no contamination of seeds by GMOs can be allowed
(such as in the Austrian purity law). The rigorous Austrian law for GMO-free seeds should become an EUstandard.
Local seed diversity, traditional plant varieties and their wild relatives provide respective regions with their
character, taste and heritage. This allows diversity to develop and increase including that of GMO-free seeds.
There is a real risk that genetic contamination will cause widespread and irreversible damage to traditional
plant varieties and seed lines, causing great loss to our biodiversity and cultural heritage.
Regional farming policy must include the right to protect traditional and locally adapted plant varieties, the
right to GMO-free farming and the conservation and use of traditional seeds.
Our food sovereignty and labelling
The overwhelming majority of Europeans do not want genetically modified food. Responding to the demand
for GMO-free food and farming is an essential part of a Region’s food sovereignty and economic
development. Regional authorities must be able to protect quality labels, purity standards, organic products,
and designations of origin in a competitive manner. This includes in particular the access to GMO-free seeds
as well as to GMO-free animal feed.
Sustaining Agricultural Biodiversity
Farming is an integral part of our regional way of life. The vast majority of European countries wish to
promote sustainable and organic farming and regional marketing for their rural development. The right of
self determination of regions and countries and the right to farm without GMOs must be legally safeguarded
by the EU.
Vienna, April 5 th 2006,
The”Vienna Declaration for a GMO-free Europe” is pronounced by the platform organising the march for a
GMO-free Europe